Publication date
5/15/16
Volume
37
Number
10
The WatchTower
Machinations of the Evil One--How
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1916/10/1916-10-1.html
 
 
YOLo 
XXXVII 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
MAY 
15, 
1916 
No. 
]0 
MACHINATIONS 
OF 
THE 
EVIL 
"Resist 
the 
LJevit, 
and 
he 
wilt 
The 
word 
devil 
represents 
that 
evil 
one 
who 
through 
un­ 
holy 
ambition 
became 
the 
first 
opponent 
of 
God, 
who 
at­ 
tempted 
to 
set 
up 
a 
rival 
government 
to 
that 
of 
the 
Almigh~y, 
and 
who 
was 
cast 
out 
of 
heaven 
and 
cut 
off 
from 
all 
aSSOCIa­ 
tion 
with 
holy 
beings, 
his 
name, 
which 
was 
~nce 
Lucifer, 
shin­ 
ing 
one, 
was 
changed 
to 
that 
of 
Satan, 
meanmg 
the 
hater, 
the 
accuser. 
He 
who 
was 
once 
called, 
"Son 
of 
the 
Morning," 
be­ 
came 
the 
prince 
of 
the 
"rulers 
of 
darkness." 
(Isaiah 
14: 
12-16; 
Ephesians 
6: 
11, 
12) 
N 
at 
only 
did 
he 
do 
evil 
to 
himself 
and 
cease 
to 
be 
an 
angel 
of 
light, 
a 
"morning 
star," 
but 
he 
became 
the 
instigator 
of 
evil, 
a 
leader 
into 
evil. 
According 
to 
the 
Scriptural 
account, 
he 
has 
succeeded 
in 
leading 
astray 
from 
God, 
not 
only 
the 
entire 
human 
family, 
by 
luring 
our 
first 
parents 
into 
disobedience, 
but 
has 
also 
misled 
a 
large 
number 
of 
the 
heavenly 
hosts 
of 
angels 
into 
sin 
and 
opposition 
to 
Jehovah. 
This 
may 
upon 
the 
surface 
appear 
to 
be 
a 
great 
triumph 
of 
Satan 
over 
the 
Almighty 
God; 
but 
such 
is 
not 
the 
case. 
God 
has 
at 
all 
times 
been 
Master 
of 
the 
situation. 
He 
has 
purposed 
to 
permit 
all 
this 
deflection 
to 
teach 
a 
great 
lesson 
to 
ooth 
angels 
and 
men. 
It 
is 
his 
purpose, 
"in 
due 
time," 
to 
judge 
all 
these 
sinners, 
both 
angelic 
and 
human, 
by 
a 
company 
that 
he 
is 
now 
preparing, 
and 
to 
restore 
to 
harmony 
with 
him­ 
self 
all 
who 
have 
properly 
learned 
their 
lesson 
as 
to 
the 
ex­ 
ceeding 
sinfulness 
of 
sin 
and 
the 
desirableness 
of 
righteous­ 
ness 
and 
of 
obedience. 
We 
understand 
that 
the 
only 
excep­ 
tions 
to 
this 
rule 
are 
Satan 
himself 
and 
some 
who 
after 
having 
been 
clearly 
enlightened, 
will 
deliberately 
choose 
sin. 
Satan 
has 
become 
inseparably 
connected 
with 
sin; 
and 
his 
destruc­ 
tion 
is 
plainly 
declared 
in 
the 
Scriptures, 
as 
is 
also 
that 
of 
those 
who 
have 
so 
imbibed 
his 
spirit 
as 
to 
make 
it 
impossible 
to 
renew 
them 
again 
to 
repentance-whether 
in 
the 
Gospel 
age 
or 
in 
the 
Millennium.-Hebrews 
2:14; 
Matthew 
25:41; 
Hebrews 
6 
:4-6; 
10: 
26-29. 
God 
has 
promised 
to 
deliver 
mankind 
from 
Satan's 
power 
and 
his 
blinding 
influences. 
He 
has 
promised 
to 
open 
all 
the 
blind 
eyes, 
and 
to 
unstop 
the 
deaf 
ears, 
and 
to 
take 
away 
the 
veil 
that 
is 
spread 
over 
all 
nations. 
(2 
Corinthians 
4: 
4 
; 
Isaiah 
35:5; 
25:7, 
8) 
This 
work 
is 
soon 
to 
be 
inaugurated 
in 
the 
Messianic 
kingdom, 
which 
God 
has 
arranged 
to 
es­ 
tablish 
upon 
earth, 
under 
Jesus 
Christ 
his 
Son. 
Jesus 
taught 
us 
to 
pray 
for 
that 
kingdom, 
saying, 
''Thy 
kingdom 
come; 
Thy 
will 
be 
done 
on 
earth, 
as 
it 
is 
done 
in 
heaven." 
When 
this 
kingdom 
is 
set 
up, 
the 
Lord 
Jesus 
will 
bind. 
that 
"old 
Serpent, 
the 
devil," 
with 
a 
great 
chain, 
that 
he 
may 
deceive 
the 
nations 
no 
more 
for 
a 
thousand 
years, 
while 
Ghrist 
will 
be 
lifting 
up 
all 
mankind 
from 
sin, 
degradation 
and 
death­ 
up 
to 
the 
perfection 
originally 
lost 
in 
Adam. 
The 
interim 
be­ 
tween 
the 
time 
of 
man's 
fall 
into 
sin 
and 
the 
time 
of 
his 
de­ 
liverance 
and 
restoration 
from 
that 
fall 
has 
been 
utilized 
in 
preliminary 
features 
of 
God's 
plan 
leading 
step 
by 
step 
to 
this 
gloriouR 
outcome. 
TWO 
CLASSES 
OF 
ELECT 
In 
shadows 
and 
types 
the 
Lord 
has 
prefigured 
the 
grea,t 
work 
which 
he 
is 
to 
accomplish 
for 
all 
mankind. 
During 
these 
ages 
of 
types, 
he 
was 
preparing 
a 
class 
of 
elect 
ones 
who 
should 
rule 
over 
the 
world 
as 
"princes 
in 
all 
the 
earth," 
during 
the 
Millennial 
kingdom. 
During 
the 
present 
Gospel 
age, 
God 
has 
been 
selecting, 
or 
electing 
a 
very 
choice 
class 
to 
be 
exalted 
with 
Christ 
as 
divine, 
spiritual 
beings, 
to 
reign 
with 
him 
as 
his 
immediate 
associates 
in 
this 
kingdom 
for 
the 
blessing 
of 
all 
the 
world. 
These 
are 
to 
give 
instructions 
to 
those 
wao 
shall 
have 
charge 
of 
the 
earthly 
phase 
of 
the 
king­ 
dom. 
These 
are 
the 
special 
elect, 
who 
suffer 
with 
Jesus 
now, 
following 
in 
his 
footsteps, 
that 
they 
may 
be 
exalted 
with 
him 
to 
the 
highest 
position 
to 
which 
God 
has 
ever 
called 
any 
of 
his 
intelligent 
creatures. 
This 
church 
of 
Christ 
have 
had 
their 
eyes 
opened 
in 
ad­ 
vance 
of 
the 
world, 
to 
see 
the 
great 
difference 
between 
right­ 
eousness 
and 
sin, 
between 
the 
character 
of 
God 
and 
that 
of 
Satan. 
They 
have 
unqualifiedly 
taken 
their 
stand 
on 
the 
side 
of 
God. 
They 
have 
therefore 
escaped 
from 
the 
domination 
of 
the 
great 
enemy 
of 
God. 
No 
longer 
is 
he 
their 
prince. 
These 
have 
"passed 
from 
death 
unto 
life." 
They 
now 
have 
a 
standing 
with 
God, 
the 
relationship 
of 
sons. 
No 
other 
members 
of 
the 
human 
race 
since 
the 
fall 
of 
Adam 
have 
been 
sons 
of 
God. 
These 
are 
not 
earthly 
sons, 
as 
was 
Adam, 
but 
spiritual 
sons. 
Theirs 
is 
a 
heavenly 
calling, 
the 
distinctive 
offer 
of 
the 
present 
age. 
They 
still 
have 
some 
of 
the 
fleshly 
weaknesses 
which 
they 
inherited 
as 
members 
of 
the 
fallen 
race, 
but 
they 
have 
become 
new 
creatures 
in 
Ohrist, 
with 
new 
hopes, 
new 
aims, 
new 
aspirations. 
They 
are 
begotten 
of 
God's 
holy 
Spirit 
to 
a 
new 
nature, 
to 
be 
a 
ONE-HOW 
TO 
VANQUISH 
HIM 
flee 
from 
you." 
--J 
ames 
4: 
7. 
Hew 
creation; 
anc1 
their 
unavoidable 
blemishes 
are 
covered 
by 
the 
white 
robes 
of 
their 
Savior's 
perfect 
ri<Thteollsncss. 
liis 
perfection 
is 
thus 
imputed 
to 
them, 
that 
they 
may 
be 
accept­ 
able 
sacrifices 
with 
Christ, 
as 
members 
of 
his 
body. 
THE 
WILL 
A 
STRONG 
DEFENSE 
AGAINST 
SATAN 
Satan, 
who 
is 
the 
opposer 
of 
God 
and 
who 
has 
led 
astray 
some 
of 
the 
holy 
angels, 
oppo,;es 
these 
who 
have 
escaped 
from 
his 
thraldom 
and 
who 
have 
these 
new 
hopes 
and 
aspirations. 
He 
does 
not 
need 
to 
make 
such 
attacks 
upon 
the 
world; 
for 
they 
are 
already 
in 
his 
power-"The 
whole 
world 
lieth 
in 
the 
Wicked 
One." 
(1 
John 
5: 
19, 
Diaglott.) 
He 
attacks 
only 
those 
who 
are 
trying 
to 
get 
free 
from 
him. 
When 
the 
spider 
perceives 
that 
the 
fly 
which 
he 
has 
entrapped 
is 
struggling 
and 
is 
about 
to 
get 
loose 
from 
the 
web, 
he 
instantly 
hastens 
to 
throw 
additional 
webs 
around 
his 
victim. 
So 
when 
Satan 
sees 
any 
of 
his 
subjects 
endeavoring 
to 
free 
themselves 
from 
his 
entanglements, 
he 
at 
once 
sets 
about 
throwing 
stronger 
coils 
around 
them, 
to 
prevent 
if 
possible 
their 
escape. 
But 
Satan 
cannot 
overcome 
a 
decided 
human 
will. 
Uod 
has 
given 
every 
creature 
this 
defense; 
and 
whoever 
does 
not 
break 
down 
this 
defense 
by 
a 
persistent 
yielding 
up 
of 
that 
will 
to 
evil 
influence, 
can 
resist 
the 
power 
of 
sin 
and 
of 
Satan 
to 
a 
considerable 
degree. 
But 
poor 
humanity 
need 
divine 
help 
to 
free 
themselves 
entirely 
from 
this 
great 
adversary 
and 
his 
hosts 
of 
evil. 
The 
position 
of 
the 
Christian 
is 
invulnerable 
so 
long 
as 
he 
keeps 
close 
to 
the 
Source 
of 
his 
strength. 
Great­ 
er 
is 
he 
that 
is 
on 
our 
part 
than 
all 
that 
can 
be 
against 
us. 
If 
the 
time 
were 
come 
for 
the 
binding 
of 
Satan, 
our 
Lord 
would 
attend 
to 
it 
at 
once. 
But 
it 
has 
not 
yet 
fully 
come. 
God's 
children 
need 
not 
feel, 
however, 
that 
they 
must 
flee 
from 
Satan 
and 
his 
hosts. 
They 
have 
no 
such 
power 
that 
we 
need 
to 
strive 
to 
gct 
away 
from 
them. 
But 
rather 
we 
should 
stand 
our 
ground, 
and 
should 
firmly 
resist 
their 
influence, 
knowing 
thlLt 
with 
every 
temptation 
God 
has 
promised 
and 
provided 
a 
way 
of 
escape. 
With 
this 
knowledge 
we 
may 
be 
strong 
in 
the 
presence 
of 
any 
adversary. 
MAMMON-THE 
IMPERSONATION 
OF 
SELFISHNESS 
The 
Apostle 
Paul 
says 
that 
we 
war 
not 
against 
flesh 
and 
blood 
merely, 
but 
against 
spiritual 
wickedness, 
or 
as 
the 
margin 
reads, 
"wicked 
spirits" 
in 
high 
positions-the 
great 
army 
of 
fallen 
angels 
under 
the 
captaincy 
of 
the 
devil, 
the 
prince 
of 
demons. 
(Ephesians 
6:12) 
He 
is 
the 
powerfullea.d­ 
er 
of 
fallen 
angels 
and 
fallen 
men, 
of 
all 
who 
may 
be 
on 
the 
side 
of 
wrong. 
Many 
are 
fighting 
On 
his. 
side 
because 
they 
are 
deluded, 
blinded. 
1hey 
are 
unwittingly 
render,ing 
him 
service. 
There 
are 
two 
masters: 
one 
is 
God 
and 
the 
other 
is 
Mammon. 
Jesus 
said, 
"Ye 
cannot 
serve 
God 
and 
Mammon." 
(Matthew 
6:24) 
We 
must 
serve 
either 
the 
one 
or 
the 
other. 
Mammon 
was 
the 
name 
of 
an 
ancient 
Syrian 
god-the 
god 
of 
riches, 
of 
cupidity, 
the 
impersonation 
of 
worldliness. 
To­ 
day 
mammon 
means 
the 
spirit 
of 
the 
world, 
selfislmess, 
with 
its 
avarice 
and 
love 
of 
wealth. 
Satan 
is 
the 
promoter 
of 
this 
mammon 
epirit. 
St. 
Paul 
tells 
us 
how 
we 
may 
know 
which 
master 
we 
are 
serving. 
He 
says, 
"His 
servants 
ye 
are 
to 
whom 
ye 
render 
obedience." 
(Romans 
6: 
16) 
If 
we 
are 
giv­ 
ing 
time 
and 
thought 
to 
grasping 
after 
riches 
and 
worldly 
honors 
J 
if 
our 
influence 
is 
for 
war 
and 
strife, 
for 
selfishness 
in 
any 
form, 
if 
our 
sympathies 
and 
affections 
are 
tending 
earthward 
rather 
than 
heavenward, 
then 
we 
are 
serving 
mam· 
man, 
the 
worldly 
spirit, 
and 
are 
thus 
serving 
Satan, 
whether 
we 
realize 
i.t 
or 
not. 
Close 
and 
careful 
scrutiny 
of 
his 
thoughts, 
words 
and 
doings 
in 
the 
light 
0'£ 
the 
Word 
of 
God 
will 
soon 
show 
any 
Christian 
whether 
he 
is 
rendering 
service 
to 
his 
rightful 
Master 
or 
to 
the 
adversary. 
Whoever 
is 
serving 
thE' 
devil 
is 
his 
servant, 
is 
in 
his 
army. 
If 
we 
are 
serving 
thE' 
cauge 
of 
righteousness, 
and 
that 
only, 
we 
are 
on 
the 
Lord's 
side. 
HOW 
TO 
RESIST 
SATAN'S 
ATTACKS 
The 
Lord's 
children 
are 
to 
see 
to 
dt 
that 
they 
are 
not 
de­ 
luded 
into 
sin 
and 
into 
the 
service 
of 
sin; 
to 
that 
extent 
they 
would 
be 
deserting 
their 
colors 
and 
taking 
their 
stand 
as 
opponents 
of 
the 
Lord. 
When 
Christians 
take 
a 
decided 
stand 
against 
Satan 
and 
his 
wiles, 
they 
are 
relieved 
from 
his 
at­ 
tacks-not 
that 
he 
flees 
from 
them 
in 
the 
sense 
that 
he 
is 
fearful 
of 
harm 
to 
himself, 
but 
that 
he 
will 
leave 
them. 
He 
will 
retreat 
just 
as 
a 
general 
of 
an 
army 
would 
retreat 
from 
a 
city 
after 
having 
found 
that 
its 
gates 
were 
strongly 
pro­ 
tected 
and 
that 
attack 
was 
useless. 
If 
the 
adversary 
finds 
one 
well 
protected 
and 
resisting 
him 
with 
a 
firm 
will, 
he 
will 
at 
once 
retreat. 
But 
if 
there 
be 
any 
parley, 
with 
sin, 
any 
tend­ 
ency 
to 
consider 
a 
matter 
when 
it 
is 
seen 
to 
be 
sin, 
an 
en­ 
trance 
is 
at 
once 
made 
for 
the 
adversary; 
and 
he 
will 
renew 
(147-148) 
[5896] 
Vou. XXXVIT BROOKLYN, N. Y., MAY 15, 1916 No. 10 ‘MACHINATIONS OF THE EVIL ONE—HOW TO VANQUISH HIM “Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.”—James 4:7. The word devil represents that evil one who through unholy ambition became the first opponent of God, who attempted to set up a rival government to that of the Almighty, and who was cast out of heaven and cut off from all association with holy beings, his name, which was once Lucifer, shining one, was changed to that of Satan, meaning the hater, the accuser. He who was once called, “Son of the Morning,” became the prince of the “rulers of darkness.” (Isaiah 14:12-16; Ephesians 6:11, 12) Not only did he do evil to himself and cease to be an angel of light, a “morning star,” but he became the instigator of evil, a leader into evil, According to the Scriptural account, he has succeeded in leading astray from God, not only the entire human family, by luring our first parents into disobedience, but has also misled a large number of the heavenly hosts of angels into sin and opposition to Jehovah. This may upon the surface appear to be a great triumph of Satan over the Almighty God; but such is not the case. God has at all times been Master of the situation. He has purposed to permit all this deflection to teach a great lesson to poth angels and men, It is his purpose, “in due time,” to judge all these sinners, both angelic and human, by a company that he is now preparing, and to restore to harmony with himself all who have properly learned their lesson as to the exceeding sinfulness of sin and the desirableness of righteousness and of obedience. We understand that the only exceptions to this rule are Satan himself and some who after having been clearly enlightened, will deliberately choose sin. Satan has become inseparably connected with sin; and his destruction is plainly declared in the Scriptures, as is also that of those who have so imbibed his spirit as to make it impossible to renew them again to repentance—whether in the Gospel age or in the Millennium.—Hebrews 2:14; Matthew 25:41; Hebrews 6:4-6; 10: 26-29. God has promised to deliver mankind from Satan’s power and his blinding influences. He has promised to open all the blind eyes, and to unstop the deaf ears, and to take away the vei] that is spread over all nations. (2 Corinthians 4:4; Isaiah 35:5; 25:7, 8) This work is soon to be inaugurated in the Messianic kingdom, which God has arranged to establish upon earth, under Jesus Christ his Son. Jesus taught us to pray for that kingdom, saying, “Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is done in heaven.” When this kingdom is set up, the Lord Jesus will bind. that “old Serpent, the devil,” with a great chain, that he may deceive the nations no more for a thousand years, while Christ will be lifting up all mankind from sin, degradation and death— up to the perfection originally lost in Adam. The interim between the time of man’s fall into sin and the time of his deliverance and restoration from that fall has been utilized in preliminary features of God’s plan leading step by step to this glorious outcome. TWO CLASSES OF ELECT In shadows and types the Lord has prefigured the great work which he is to accomplish for all mankind. During these ages of types, he was preparing a class of elect ones who should rule over the world as “princes in all the earth,” during the Millennial kingdom. During the present Gospel age, God has been selecting, or electing a very choice class to be exalted with Christ as divine, spiritua] beings, to reign with him as his immediate associates in this kingdom for the blessing of all the world. These are to give instructions to those wno shall have charge of the earthly phase of the kingdom. These are the special elect, who suffer with Jesus now, following in his footsteps, that they may be exalted with him to the highest position to which God has ever called any of his intelligent creatures. This church of Christ have had their eyes opened in advance of the world, to see the great difference between righteousness and sin, between the character of God and that of Satan. They have unqualifiedly taken their stand on the side of God. They have therefore escaped from the domination of the great enemy of God. No longer is he their prince. These have “passed from death unto life.” They now have a standing with God, the relationship of sons. No other members of the human race since the fall of Adam have been sons of God. These are not earthly sons, as was Adam, but spiritual sons. Theirs is a heavenly calling, the distinctive offer of the present age. They still have some of the fleshly weaknesses which they inherited as members of the fallen race, but they have become new creatures in Christ, with new hopes, new aims, new aspirations, They are begotten of God’s holy Spirit to a new nature, to be a (147-148) new creation; anu their unavoidable blemishes are covered by the white robes of their Savior’s perfect righteousness. His perfection is thus imputed to them, that they may he acceptable sacrifices with Christ, as members of his body. THE WILL A STRONG DEFENSE AGAINST SATAN Satan, who is the opposer of God and who has led astray some of the holy angels, opposes these who have escaped from his thraldom and who have these new hopes and aspirations. He does not need to make such attacks upon the world; for they are already in his power—The whole world lieth in the Wicked One.” (1 John 5:19, Diaglott.) He attacks only those who are trying to get free from him. When the spider perceives that the fly which he has entrapped is struggling and is about to get loose from the web, he instantly hastens to throw additional webs around his victim. So when Satan sees any of his subjects endeavoring to free themselves from his entanglements, he at once sets about throwing stronger coils around them, to prevent if possible their escape. But Satan cannot overcome a decided human will. God has given every creature this defense; and whoever does not break down this defense by a persistent yielding up of that will to evil influence, can resist the power of sin and of Satan to a considerable degree. But poor humanity need divine help to free themselves entirely from this great adversary and his hosts of evil. The position of the Christian is invulnerable so long as he keeps close to the Source of his strength. Greater is he that is on our part than all that can be against us. If the time were come for the binding of Satan, our Lord would attend to it at once. But it has not yet fully come. God’s children need not feel, however, that they must flee from Satan and his hosts. They have no such power that we need to strive to get away from them. But rather we should stand our ground, and should firmly resist their influence, knowing that with every temptation God has promised and provided a way of escape. With this knowledge we may be strong in the presence of any adversary. MAMMON—THE IMPERSONATION OF SELFISHNESS The Apostle Paul says that we war not against flesh and blood merely, but against spiritual wickedness, or as the margin reads, “wicked spirits” in high positions—the great army of fallen angels under the captaincy of the devil, the prince of demons. (Ephesians 6:12) He is the powerful leader of fallen angels and fallen men, of all who may be on the side of wrong. Many are fighting on his side because they are deluded, blinded. ‘Lhey are unwittingly rendering him service. There are two masters: one is God and the other is Mammon. Jesus said, “Ye cannot serve God and Mammon.” (Matthew 6:24) We must serve either the one or the other. Mammon was the name of an ancient Syrian god—the god of riches, of cupidity, the impersonation of worldliness. Today mammon means the spirit of the world, selfishness, with its avarice and love of wealth. Satan is the promoter of this mammon spirit. St. Paul tells us how we may know which master we are serving. He says, “His servants ye are to whom ye render obedience.” (Romans 6:16) If we are giving time and thought to grasping after riches and worldly honors, if our influence is for war and strife, for selfishness in any form, if our sympathies and affections are tending earthward rather than heavenward, then we are serving mammon, the worldly spirit, and are thus serving Satan, whether we realize it or not. Close and careful scrutiny of his thoughts, words and doings in the light of the Word of God will soon show any Christian whether he is rendering service to his rightful Master or to the adversary. Whoever is serving the devil is his servant, is in his army. If we are serving the cause of righteousness, and that only, we are on the Lord’s side. HOW TO RESIST SATAN’S ATTACKS The Lord’s children are to see to it that they are not deluded into sin and into the service of sin; to that extent they would be deserting their colors and taking their stand as opponents of the Lord. When Christians take a decided stand against Satan and his wiles, they are relieved from his attacks—not that he flees from them in the sense that he is fearful of harm to himself, but that he will leave them. He will retreat just as a general of an army would retreat from a city after having found that its gates were strongly protected and that attack was useless. If the adversary finds one well protected and resisting him with a firm will, he will at once retreat. But if there be any parley, with sin, any tendency to consider a matter when it is seen to be sin, an entrance is at once made for the adversary; and he will renew [5896]

This website uses cookies to improve the website and your experience. By continuing to browse this website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. If you require further information or do not wish to accept cookies when using this website, please visit our Privacy Policy    Terms of Use    .